Display apparatus for implements with handles and working ends

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for carrying an implement comprising a handle and a working end comprises an engagement member for releasably securing a handle to the apparatus and a receptacle positioned in substantial alignment with the engagement member. The engagement member may be a post comprising a catch or a threaded section positioned on a front surface of the apparatus. The apparatus may further include first and second receptacles for retaining at least a portion of the handle of the implement.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/347,534, filed Feb. 3, 2006.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a display apparatus and more particularly to adisplay apparatus for carrying an implement comprising a handle and aworking end, such as a cleaning implement.

BACKGROUND

Implements comprising handles and working ends, such as mops and brooms,are displayed to customers in a retail environment in various ways.Pegboards, in connection with wire support members, have been widelyused for this purpose. Typically, implements are hung on the wiresupport members through a hole in the handle or in packaging used inconnection with the implement. Blister packs are one type of knownpackaging.

There is a need for an easy to use display apparatus that can beemployed with existing display systems or otherwise.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to an improved display apparatus forcarrying an implement comprising a handle and a working end.

Briefly, the apparatus comprises a front surface and a rear surface, thefront surface comprising an engagement member for releasably securing ahandle to the apparatus and a receptacle for holding a portion of thehandle. The term “receptacle,” as used herein, means a structure ordevice for restricting movement of a portion of a handle in two or moredirections. The term “engagement member” means a structure or device forsecuring the handle to the apparatus, such as a post or threaded area inselect embodiments of the present invention. The term “releasablysecuring” means that the engagement member is constructed so that thehandle is capable of being secured to and removed from the apparatus sothat the display apparatus can be reused.

In one embodiment, the display apparatus comprises a top portioncomprising a front surface and a rear surface, the front surfacecomprising a threaded section and a post transverse to the frontsurface, a cover connected to the top portion and first and secondreceptacles defined by the cover and top portion. The top portion mayfurther comprise a hole for hanging the apparatus on a hook. The rearsurface may be constructed of a flexible material and may comprise aplurality of undercuts for receipt of a card comprising productinformation. Alternatively, the cover may comprise a raised surface forcarrying a label with product information. To facilitate engagement, thepost may comprise a catch for engaging an aperture positioned in thehandle. The first and second receptacles may exhibit variousconfigurations. Typically, the first receptacle is in substantialalignment with the threaded portion while the second receptacle is insubstantial alignment with the post. One of the receptacles may comprisea greater width dimension than the other.

In another embodiment, the apparatus comprises a top portion comprisinga front surface and a rear surface, the front surface comprising athreaded section and a post transverse to the front surface, a firstreceptacle positioned in substantial alignment with the threaded portionand a second receptacle positioned in substantial alignment with thepost. The post may comprise a catch for engaging the handle and the topportion may be constructed of a flexible material to allow disengagementof the post from the handle. At least one of the first and secondreceptacles may comprise a concave surface. One of the first and secondreceptacles comprises a greater width dimension than the other.

In yet another embodiment, the apparatus comprises a front surface and arear surface, the front surface comprising at least one engagementmember for releasably securing the handle to the apparatus and at leastone receptacle positioned in substantial alignment with the engagementmember, the receptacle for retaining at least a portion of the handle.Opposing lateral support members may be positioned between and connectedto the top portion and a bottom portion of the apparatus.

An implement used with the apparatus may comprise a two-part elongatedhandle comprising a handle portion connected to a working end and ahandle attachment member for lengthening the handle portion. The handleportion may engage the post while the handle attachment member mayengage the threaded portion, or vice versa. Regardless, with animplement installed on the apparatus, a length from a top portion of thehandle to a bottom portion of the working end may be about 40.0 inches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain embodiments of the presently claimed invention are illustratedby the accompanying figures. It should be understood that the figuresare not necessarily to scale and that details that are not necessary foran understanding of the invention or that render other details difficultto perceive may be omitted. It should be understood, of course, that theinvention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodimentsillustrated herein.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the apparatus of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first alternate embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second alternate embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a two-part elongated handleand the apparatus of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a user removing a portion of the handlefrom the apparatus of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a display apparatus for carryingimplements comprising handles and working ends. The implements may, forexample, be cleaning implements, such as mops, brooms, dusters,long-handled garden implements, such as rakes or garden hoes, or anyother such implements. The term “working end,” as used herein, means aportion of an implement attached to an end of a handle and capable ofperforming a function, such as the bristle portion on a broom or thesponge portion of a mop. The implements may be manufactured by methodsknown to those of skill in the art.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, one embodiment of the apparatus 10 ofthe present invention is shown. Apparatus 10 comprises top portion 12,cover 14, bottom portion 16, first and second receptacles 18 and 20,first and second separators 22 and 24 and peripheral flat edges 26.

Top portion 12 comprises front surface 28 and rear surface 30. Frontsurface 28 comprises threaded portion 32 and post 34. Threaded portion32 optionally includes chamfer 36. Post 34 is positioned transverse tofront surface 28 and may include opposing sidewalls 29 and 31 and angledsurface 33. Post 34 may further comprise catch 35. Although catch 35 maytake other forms, as shown in FIG. 1, catch 35 comprises a raisedsurface or rib on top of post 34. Slot 38 may be positioned around atleast a portion of post 34. Top portion 12 may further comprise hanghole 40 for hanging apparatus from a hook on a display rack and firstseparator 22, positioned in alignment with a longitudinal axis betweenthreaded portion 32 and post 34.

Cover 14 may be positioned between top portion 12 and bottom portion 16and connected thereto. Cover 14 comprises forward facing surface 42 andrearward portion 44 and may comprise curved surface 45. Front portion 42may comprise raised surface 46, to which a label carrying productinformation may be affixed. Additionally or alternatively, rear portion44 may comprise a plurality of undercuts 48 positioned uniformly ornon-uniformly around the periphery of rear portion 44. Undercuts 48 areadapted to receive and hold a card carrying product information. Theorientation of cover 14 may be reversed so that its forward facingsurface 42 is oriented toward the rear of apparatus 10.

Bottom portion 16 may comprise retaining receptacles 50 and 51, withsecond separator positioned 24 therebetween. Retaining receptacles 50and 51 may comprise concave surfaces, which typically conform to theshape of a handle.

First and second receptacles 18 and 20 may be defined by top portion 12and cover 14. First receptacle 18 is typically positioned in substantialalignment with threaded portion 32, while second receptacle 20 istypically positioned in substantial alignment with post 34. Depending onthe dimensions of the implement to be positioned within apparatus 10,one of first and second receptacles 18 and 20 may comprise a greaterwidth dimension than the other. For example, first receptacle 18 maycomprise a width dimension d between about 0.75 inches to 1.0 inch,between about 0.825 and about 0.925 and more particularly about 0.875inches. Second receptacle 20 may comprise a width dimension d′ betweenabout 1.0 inches to about 1.5 inches, between about 1.2 to about 1.3 andmore particularly about 1.25 inches.

First and second separators 22 and 24 are positioned between first andsecond receptacles 18 and 20. First separator 22, integrally formed withtop portion 12, may extend approximately 0.1875 inches from top portion12. Second separator 24, integrally formed with bottom portion 16, mayextend approximately 0.375 inches from bottom portion 16.

Peripheral flat edges 26 are typically positioned around top portion 12and opposing lateral side edges of apparatus 10. Peripheral flat edges26 may comprise a plurality of indents 52, often circular in shape. Thistype of construction is designed to resemble a blister pack, which isoften used for holding and displaying implements comprising handles andworking ends.

In a first alternate embodiment, shown in FIG. 3, apparatus 100comprises top portion 112, opposing lateral support members 114 andbottom portion 116. Top portion 112 may comprise threaded portion 132and post 134, which again may comprise catch 135. Top portion 112 mayfurther comprise hang hole 140. First and second receptacles 118 and 120may be formed in top portion 112 and comprise concave surfaces orientedtoward the rear. Retaining receptacles 150 and 151 are positioned inbottom portion 116. Opposing lateral support members 114 may bepositioned between and connected to top portion 112 and bottom portion116.

In a second alternate embodiment, shown in FIG. 4, apparatus 200comprises threaded portion 232 and post 234, which again may comprisecatch 235. First and second receptacles 218 and 220 may be respectivelypositioned in substantial alignment with threaded portion 232 and post234.

Apparatus 10 is typically constructed of a flexible transparentmaterial, such as a styrene-butadiene copolymer. One suitable example ofthis type of material is sold under the trade name K-Resin® by theChevron Phillips Chemical Company. The flexible material may exhibit aflexural modulus, according to ASTM 790 of between about 1550 MPa toabout 1650 MPa, with about 1590 MPa being typical. To make apparatus 10,an injection molding process may be employed.

In one embodiment, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, apparatus 10 is adapted toreceive and carry implement 54, comprising handle 56 and working end 58.Typically, handle 56 comprises handle portion 60, integral with workingend 58, and handle attachment member 64 for lengthening handle portion60. Handle portion 60 is releasably securable to handle attachmentmember 64 by various means known to those of skill in the art. Forexample, handle portion 60 may be snap fit, interference fit orthreadedly engaged with handle attachment member 64. As shown in FIGS. 5and 6, handle portion 60 includes threaded portion 66, which screws intohandle attachment member 64 and which is adapted to mate with threadedportion 32 of top portion 12. Handle attachment member 64 may compriserounded closed end 68, comprising aperture 70, which is adapted toreceive and engage post 34.

In use, implement 54 is installed on apparatus 10 and then displayed toconsumers. Referring now to FIG. 5, handle portion 60 may be slid upthrough bottom portion 16 of apparatus 10 under cover 14 and throughfirst receptacle 18 so that threaded portion 66 is aligned with threadedportion 32. Handle portion 60 may then be threadedly engaged with topportion 12 by pushing threaded portion 66 toward rear surface 30 of topportion 12 so that chamfer 36 engages threaded portion 66 and secures itin place. Under these circumstances, screwing threaded portion 66 intothreaded portion 32 is unnecessary, though such action may still beemployed to establish a secure connection. Similarly, handle attachmentmember 64 may be slid up through bottom portion 16 of apparatus 10 undercover 14 and through second receptacle 20 so that aperture 70 is alignedwith post 34. To secure handle attachment member 64 to top portion 12,post 34 may be pushed through aperture 70 so that catch 35 contacts atop surface of aperture 70.

With implement 54 in position, cover 14 overlies at least a portion ofhandle portion 60 and handle attachment member 64 while retainingreceptacles 50 and 51 help support the lower end portions of handleportion 60 and handle attachment member 64. With implement in position,length l from a top of top portion 12 to a bottom of working end 58 isno greater than about 40.0 inches and more particularly is about 39.25inches.

Prior to or after securing implement 54 to apparatus 10, a cardcontaining product information (not shown) may be adhered to raisedsurface 46 or positioned within the plurality of undercuts 48 on rearsurface 44 of cover 14. In this way, apparatus 10 can also be used toreadily display product information to consumers.

To remove implement 54 from apparatus 10, the installation process isessentially reversed. Threaded portion 66 of handle portion 60 isdisengaged from threaded portion 32 of top portion 12 and handle portion60 is slid out of apparatus 10 through bottom portion 16. Flexible topportion 12 is bent in a rearward direction (without breaking), therebydisengaging catch 35 from aperture 70 so that handle attachment member64 can likewise slide out of apparatus 10 through bottom portion 16.Slot 38 positioned around post 34 weakens rear surface 30 to facilitatebending without breaking.

Variations, modifications and other implementations of what is describedherein will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, if animplement comprising a single handle is used, the apparatus of thepresent invention may be modified to include only a single receptacle,with either one of the threaded portion or post used to secure thehandle in position. Accordingly, the invention is in no way limited bythe preceding illustrative description.

1. An apparatus for supporting an implement including a handle and aworking end, the handle capable of being separated into a first handlepart and a second handle part, the apparatus comprising: a firstengagement member for releasably securing the first handle part to theapparatus; a second engagement member for releasably securing the secondhandle part to the apparatus, wherein the second engagement member isspaced apart from the first engagement member; a first receptacle forreceiving at least a portion of the first handle part with the first andsecond handle parts separated and the first handle part secured to theapparatus with the first engagement member; and a second receptacle forreceiving at least a portion of the second handle part with the firstand second handle parts separated and the second handle part secured tothe apparatus with the second engagement member, wherein the secondreceptacle is spaced apart from the first receptacle.
 2. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the first engagement member is substantially alignedwith the first receptacle.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein thesecond engagement member is substantially aligned with the secondreceptacle.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first receptaclehas a first receptacle length and the first engagement member extends ina direction transverse to the first receptacle length.
 5. The apparatusof claim 4, wherein the second receptacle has a second receptacle lengthand at least a portion of the second engagement member extends in adirection transverse to the second receptacle length.
 6. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the first engagement member and the secondengagement member are different types of members for releasably securingthe first and second handle parts in different manners.
 7. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the first engagement member comprises a post.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the second engagement member comprisesthreads.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first engagementmember comprises a post and the second engagement member comprisesthreads.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hole forhanging the apparatus from a hook.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe first receptacle has a first size and the second receptacle has asecond size different than the first size.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the first and second receptacles are substantially circular incross section.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the firstreceptacle has a first diameter and the second receptacle has a seconddiameter different than the first diameter.
 14. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the first engagement member is adapted to provide verticalsupport for the first handle part and the second engagement member isadapted to provide vertical support for the second handle part.